Regulatory Policy Manager - ESO

Job Purpose

Great Britain's electricity system is undergoing an ambitious, exciting and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, greener system, one that protects the planet and serves generations to come.

The ESO regulatory team supports and enables the business to operate within our regulatory licenced activities, providing expert regulatory support to the business in order to maximise benefits for end consumers and Great Britain. The team is also accountable for developing with the business and submitting to Ofgem each two-year regulatory business plan.

The Regulatory Policy Manager will be accountable for leading a small, high-performing team of energy regulation experts to meet our regulatory obligations in responding to Ofgem Request for Information (RFIs) and Regulatory submissions. In addition, the team will provide expert advice on the ESO Licence, updating this where necessary and ensuring the obligations are owned by the Business. The team will also lead the triage, coordination and tracking of the ESO responses to consultations.

This role can be based from Wokingham or Warwick, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. We are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements. 

About us

As Great Britain’s electricity system operator (ESO), we sit at the heart of the electricity system, using our outstanding engineering and commercial expertise to balance electricity supply and demand. Ultimately, we keep the electricity flowing directly to where it’s needed, second by second.

Becoming the National Energy System Operator

In Summer of 2024, the ESO will transition to becoming the National Energy System Operator, or NESO for short. Previously denoted as the Future System Operator (or FSO), the new National Energy System Operator will be the independent body responsible for planning Great Britain’s electricity and gas networks and operating the electricity system.

The ESO, including all of its existing roles, will be at the heart of the new National Energy System Operator. As NESO, we will build on our existing roles, capabilities, and ways of working significantly to create an organisation the energy system and its users’ need. Our new capabilities will enable us to look across vectors, including electricity, natural gas and hydrogen, and crucially consider the trade-offs between them.

The organisation will be set up as a public corporation with its own Board of independent directors, with complete operational independence from government, the regulator and any and all commercial interest. As the ESO are today, NESO will be licenced and regulated by Ofgem through price control agreements and obligated to identify optimal solutions to system operations and planning in the most sustainable, affordable and secure way for all.

The time to deliver is now. As part of our team, you won’t just be touching the lives of almost everyone in Great Britain – you’ll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come.

Key Accountabilities

• Ensure that ESO responses to Ofgem RFIs follow appropriate governance and are delivered on time and to expectations
• Ensure that Regulatory submissions that are owned by the Regulation team follow appropriate governance and are delivered on time and to expectations
• Provide regulatory expertise on the ESO Licence to the business and support any licence modification processes to ensure the ESO licence is up to date. Use their knowledge of the licence to ensure the obligations are owned by the business through a detailed licence matrix and supporting on licence issues/consents/derogations where appropriate.
• Consultation response management. Horizon scanning, leading triage and coordination of responses to consultations relevant to ESO
• Own and lead the relationship with the ENA Regulation Group

About you

You will have a relevant professional qualification or suitable equivalent experience in energy network regulation / law / policy.  You will also have experience of: 

• Leading regulatory / policy teams or equivalent
• Growing / developing regulatory & policy capability for the business
• Experience of effectively & positively managing relationships with regulator, government and stakeholders to deliver positive regulatory / funding solutions / outcomes for the business
• An excellent understanding of ESO’s licences, obligations and regulatory framework
• The ability to interpret written rules and obligations and deliver pragmatic solutions
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills

What you'll get

A competitive salary between £58,000 - £70,000 per annum – dependent on experience and capability. As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus of up to 15% of your salary for stretch performance, 28 days annual leave as standard, and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%.

As we work towards creating a cleaner, greener, and more affordable future for all, we also work towards creating a place for our teammates to belong, with professional and personal growth and positive well-being.

• Full support and career-development resources to expand your skills, enhance your expertise, and maximise your potential along your career journey.
• A diverse and inclusive community of belonging, where teammates are empowered to bring ideas to the table.
• Generous Total Rewards Plan – comprising of health, finance and wealth, work/life balance, and career benefits.

More Information

This role closes on 7th May 2024 at 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.

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We work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office. 

We're committed to building a workforce that represents the communities we serve, and a working environment in which each individual feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential.